Ato Forson Deserves Standing Ovation for Defending Mahama’s Economic Legacy – PYAG

The Progressive Youth Alliance – Ghana (PYAG) has praised Ghana’s Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, for what it describes as his steadfast leadership and disciplined fiscal management that contributed to Ghana’s successful exit from the IMF bailout programme.

In a statement issued on Monday, May 18, 2026, the group said Ghana’s recovery from the IMF programme within 17 months under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration was a result of “unprecedented fiscal discipline and structured policy reforms” spearheaded by Dr. Ato Forson at the Ministry of Finance.

According to PYAG, several bold and strategic economic reforms implemented by the Finance Minister played a key role in restoring confidence in Ghana’s economy and accelerating the country’s recovery process.

The group highlighted measures such as the reduction in the size of government, enforcement of mandatory commitment controls, uncapping of statutory funds to align with national priorities, reforms in tax administration, regulation of petroleum and mining royalties, and the establishment of the Gold Board to regulate the domestic gold purchasing regime.

PYAG further described the recently introduced Certificate of Authorisation (CoA) policy as one of the most decisive fiscal control interventions in recent Ghanaian history.

According to the group, the policy ensures that no Ministry, Department, or Agency commits the state financially without prior approval from the Ministry of Finance, helping to curb unauthorized spending, reduce judgment debts, and protect public funds from abuse.

The alliance also commended the establishment of the Value for Money Office (VfMO), noting that the initiative would help scrutinize government contracts and ensure prudent use of state resources.

PYAG said the office is expected to eliminate inflated contracts, procurement irregularities, and wasteful expenditure while promoting accountability and efficiency in public financial management.

Another major initiative praised by the group was the Commitment Control Compliance League Table, which it said promotes strict adherence to public financial management regulations among state institutions.

The alliance argued that the monitoring and ranking mechanism would help instill discipline and responsibility across the public sector while strengthening Ghana’s financial governance framework.

“These reforms collectively position Dr. Ato Forson as one of the most prudent, disciplined, and reform-oriented Finance Ministers Ghana has witnessed in recent times,” the statement said.

PYAG added that the Finance Minister’s policies were practical governance tools aimed at safeguarding national resources, restoring investor confidence, and building a sustainable economic future.

The group further expressed optimism that Ghana’s exit from the IMF programme would pave the way for renewed economic growth, increased investment, and job creation across sectors including agriculture, industry, infrastructure, technology, and the private sector.

“With the removal of IMF conditionalities, the government will have greater flexibility to support local businesses, attract investors, and stimulate sustainable employment opportunities for the youth,” the statement added.

PYAG concluded by stating that history would remember Dr. Ato Forson as a Finance Minister who chose “fiscal discipline over recklessness, accountability over waste, and national interest over political convenience.”

The statement was jointly signed by PYAG conveners Eric Nana Tekyi, Nana Berimah Asamoh, and Saeed Andoh.